Children get creative with 2012 legacy

Children from the Olympic boroughs have been helping to develop legacy plans for the 2012 site during half term activities organised by the London Development Agency (LDA).

The 4 – 12 year-olds learned about how their area would will be transformed after the 2012 Games and were asked to share ideas about what they would like to see created.

The children came up with a fantastic array of ideas from a wildlife park, rollercoaster ride to a circus, and even a submarine as well as a floating café and underwater viewing stations.

The week long events, which are being put on in partnership with Discover and Westfield, took place as part of a Young Consultants Programme feeding into the legacy design work in a children friendly environment at the Discover Centre in Stratford.

The children also had a chance to meet LDA masterplanners EDAW, Allies and Morisson and KCAP who are leading work on the Legacy Masterplan Framework (LMF) – a spatial plan for homes, parkland, schools, workspace, health and sporting facilities to be developed on the Olympic site after the 2012 Games.

The week long activities included:

* Creative drawing to reflect on their ideal park – making collages of their images and sticking them onto the masterplan. These were gathered in a giant book of the collages which were presented to the masterplanners
* Meeting with masterplanners, ask questions and learn more about the proposed plans for the Olympic legacy.
* Visiting Victoria Park in east London looking at canals and parkland
* Visiting Canary Wharf to see how a public square works in a corporate environment.

LDA Group Director of Olympic Legacy, Tom Russell, said:

“It was great to see the children responding to the Olympic legacy project. They were full of ideas about what should be developed after the 2012 Games. This part of London will be developed around them so it is crucial that they have some idea about what is happening now so feel like they have a stake in the future.”

“We want to include as many people as possible in our legacy masterplanning consultation. On top of the school visits we are appointing a youth panel where 14-19 year olds are being involved in the planning process and helping to generate interest among other youngsters.”

The LMF outline planning application, due to be submitted next year, will be part of a wider economic, social and physical regeneration strategy for the Olympic Park and the Lower Lea Valley. The LDA is leading this work alongside London 2012 partners.

Quotes from young people taking part in half term events and activities.

Elara, 12 from Plaistow (Blackheath High School)

“The best part of the week was talking to the Olympic developers. I’ve really enjoyed it. I want to watch things at the Velodrome because I won a competition to design my very own one.”

Temi, 10 from East Ham (Carpenters Primary School)

“The best bit of the week was going to Victoria Park. I have learnt to be more confident through speaking to the Olympic organisers.”

Tamanna,11 from Stratford (Sarah Bonnell School)

“The best bit was our visit to Canary Wharf. I enjoyed going to the highest point in the building, meeting people and helping design our own Olympics. It’s been a great way to spend a half-term.”

Dijenis,11 from Stratford. (Carpenters Primary School)

“The best bit was going to Canary Wharf. I am really proud the Olympics is coming to our home and feel happy that I am going to see the athletes. These trips have been really interesting. We shared our ideas with the Olympic developers.”

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Notes to editors

* The London Development Agency works to improve quality of life for all Londoners and drive sustainable economic growth.
* The LDA is helping delivery of Olympic legacy now. This work includes helping Londoners access skills, job and businesses opportunities through projects such as the Opportunities Fund, Personal Best and CompeteFor. The LDA has also developed three state of the art business parks in Beckton, Leyton and Enfield for businesses relocating from the Olympic Park site. For more information about the LDA’s Olympic legacy work visit www.legacynow.co.uk.
* Masterplanners for the LMF process are EDAW, Allies and Morrison and KCAP.
* Discover is the UK’s first hands-on centre focusing on creativity through projects, exhibits and activities exploring imagination, words, language and the built environment. Each year over 55,000 children and adults participate in programmes. Discover provides their first opportunity to work with professional artists.
* The LDA is leading the master planning process, working with partners the Olympic Delivery Authority, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), the Greater London Authority, Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC), the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) and the five host boroughs of Hackney, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Waltham Forest.
* On July 2 the LDA took control of the Olympic Park site - an area equivalent to Hyde Park - following the acquisition of 2,200 land and property interests. The LDA has supported 193 businesses to move. Almost all have relocated to new premises securing 98% of the 4,750 jobs on site. The Agency has also supported 425 residents, 35 Traveller families and 64 allotment holders to find new homes and premises nearby.
* The LDA is committed to delivering an Olympic legacy now. This includes helping Londoners access training, job, sporting and business opportunities through projects such as London Summer of Sport, Personal Best and CompeteFor. The LDA is also planning what will go on the Olympic site after the Games.